Awami League Presidium Member and Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton on Sunday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been continuing her relentless efforts for overcoming the Rohingya crisis.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is continuously raising voices before the world leaders seeking their cooperation for Rohingya repatriation to their country as soon as possible," he added.
Liton came up with the observation while addressing a seminar styled "Sheikh Hasina's Global Image: Related to Rohingya Repatriation" as the chief guest.
He said that global pressure has become an urgent need for solving the Rohingya crisis as its extent has gradually been aggravating.
He also opined that the role of the world leaders to mitigate the problem is being judged as frustrating as they aren't intended to give shelter to refugees in their own countries.
"Bangladesh provided shelter to 1.2 million people fleeing from Myanmar and the number is gradually mounting," Liton said.
He said by dint of her generosity Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has arranged accommodations for around 100,000 of them in a beautiful atmosphere.
He added that in developed countries such as Italy, Greece or France, those trying to enter illegally through the Mediterranean Sea are either caught or drown.
“If they are caught, they face a lot of struggles. Whereas the developed countries refuse to host even 5,000 of 10,000 people, we are hosting 1.2 million.”
The Rajshahi mayor said that Bangladesh wants to exist peacefully and friends to all, enemy to all is part of the country’s foreign policy.
“We do not want to go to war. Myanmar has been instigating us. One after another mortar shell was thrown. One person died, another lost his leg,” he said.
He added that it is to be considered whether international powers were at play to encourage Myanmar.
The mayor said that the whole world is a global village and a collective effort is needed to tackle the situation.
He added that Cox’s Bazar where the Rohingyas are being hosted, is being destroyed. Not only are the hills are being damaged, drug trade and crimes are also increasing.
Bangladesh Progotishil Columnist Forum (BPCF) organized the seminar at Senate Bhaban of Rajshahi University (RU) with its Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar in the chair.
Researcher and Columnist Brig Gen (retd) Hassan Shamsuddin illustrated the Rohingya issues along with its bad impacts on Bangladesh during his keynote presentation, while BPCF General Secretary Prof Milton Biswash welcomed the participants.
BPCF President Prof Mijanur Rahman, VC of Rabindra University Prof Shah Azam, VC of North South University Prof Atikul Islam and RU Pro VC Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam also spoke on the occasion.
